EPA awards $11.6M contract for information management services to Agile Decision Sciences, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,648,421 ($11.6M)

Contractor: Agile Decision Sciences, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2023-04-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,278 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CENTER SERVICES (IMCS) V

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20460

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $11.6 million to AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC for work described as: EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CENTER SERVICES (IMCS) V Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in critical EPA IT infrastructure. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The use of Time and Materials pricing may introduce cost variability if not closely managed. 4. The contract duration of over three years indicates a long-term need for these services. 5. The geographic location of the contractor in Washington D.C. may facilitate close collaboration. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 covers a broad range of professional services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific service details. However, the total award amount of $11.6 million over approximately 3.5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Comparing this to similar IT support contracts within the EPA or other federal agencies would provide better context. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants careful monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent scope creep, which could inflate the overall expenditure beyond initial expectations.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' indicating that the EPA sought proposals from all eligible sources. The presence of 3 offers suggests a reasonable level of competition for this requirement. While not an exhaustive number, it implies that multiple companies were interested and capable of performing the work, which generally aids in price discovery and achieving a fair market price.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more competitive price than a sole-source or limited competition procurement. This process helps ensure that federal funds are used efficiently.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will benefit from enhanced information management and IT support. Services delivered are expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of EPA's internal operations. The primary geographic impact is within Washington D.C., where the contractor is located and likely where services will be primarily rendered or managed. The contract supports a specialized segment of the IT services workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing if not managed diligently.
Ensuring consistent service quality and performance throughout the contract duration.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical information management functions.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Contract duration suggests a stable, long-term need and commitment from the agency.
Contractor is based in the District of Columbia, potentially allowing for close agency collaboration.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under IT support and information management. The market for these services is vast and highly competitive, with numerous federal and commercial entities seeking similar capabilities. The EPA's spending in this area is consistent with the broader government trend of outsourcing IT functions to specialized firms to leverage expertise and manage costs. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT service contracts awarded to firms of similar size and scope within federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside requirement. However, the prime contractor, Agile Decision Sciences, LLC, may choose to subcontract portions of the work to small businesses as part of their business strategy, which could indirectly benefit the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the contracting officer and the EPA's program officials responsible for information management. Performance will be monitored against the terms and conditions of the delivery order, including service level agreements and deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS.gov, where contract awards are recorded. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the EPA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has broad authority to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in agency programs and contracts.

Related Government Programs

EPA IT Infrastructure Support
Federal Information Technology Services
Professional and Technical Services Contracts
Information Management Systems

Risk Flags

Potential for cost escalation due to Time and Materials pricing.
Broad NAICS code may lead to scope definition challenges.
Need for robust performance monitoring to ensure value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $11.6 million to AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC. EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CENTER SERVICES (IMCS) V

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-04-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'Information Management Center Services' being provided under this contract?

The contract details describe the services as 'EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CENTER SERVICES (IMCS) V'. While the specific 'V' designation is unclear without further context, IMCS typically refers to services related to the management, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information. This could encompass a wide range of activities such as database management, document control, records management, data archiving, digital asset management, and potentially IT support for these systems. The docket center aspect suggests a focus on managing official records and submissions within the EPA's regulatory or administrative processes. Understanding the precise scope of these services is crucial for evaluating performance and value.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure compare to other IT service contracts at the EPA or within the federal government?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are common for IT services, especially when the scope of work is not clearly defined at the outset or is expected to evolve. However, they carry a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts because the government pays for the actual labor hours and materials used. Agencies like the EPA often use T&M for tasks like system maintenance, troubleshooting, or development where requirements are fluid. Best practice dictates that T&M contracts should have strong oversight, labor hour limitations, and clear definitions of what constitutes billable time and materials to mitigate cost risks. Comparing this contract's T&M rates to benchmarks for similar IT support roles within the federal government would be necessary to assess its value for money.

What is Agile Decision Sciences, LLC's track record with federal IT service contracts, particularly with the EPA?

Agile Decision Sciences, LLC has a track record of receiving federal contracts, as indicated by this award. To assess their performance history, one would need to examine past contracts awarded to them, particularly those with the EPA or similar agencies for IT and information management services. Key performance indicators to look for include contract completion success, adherence to schedules and budgets, and any reported performance issues or disputes. Information on past performance can often be found in federal procurement databases or through agency performance evaluation systems. A positive history suggests a lower risk for this current contract, while a negative history would raise concerns.

What are the potential risks associated with the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code (541990)?

The NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' is a broad category that can encompass a wide array of services. This breadth can present risks if the specific services required are not well-defined within the contract. For the government, the risk lies in potentially paying for services that are not precisely aligned with the agency's needs or in difficulty comparing bids if the scope varies significantly between offerors. For the contractor, it can mean ambiguity in deliverables and performance expectations. Effective contract management, including clear statements of work and performance metrics, is essential to mitigate these risks when using such a broad classification.

How does the $11.6 million contract value compare to historical EPA spending on information management services?

To assess this, one would need to analyze historical spending data for the EPA's Information Management Center Services (IMCS) or similar IT support functions over several fiscal years. Comparing the current $11.6 million award, spread over approximately 3.5 years, to previous annual or multi-year expenditures would reveal whether this represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment. Factors such as changes in agency needs, technological advancements, or shifts in procurement strategies could explain any variations. Without historical data, it's difficult to determine if this contract represents a significant shift in spending or is in line with past investments.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 68HERD23R0019

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation

Address: 350 VOYAGER WAY STE 100B, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,083,382

Exercised Options: $15,083,382

Current Obligation: $11,648,421

Actual Outlays: $10,509,999

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERD23D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline